Staple driving machine



yM.Jly17,193s. F POLZER 2,117,744

STAPLE DRIVING MACHINE Filed June 8, 1955 mimi-LUN' T @Ny-TOR A ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 17, 1938 PATENT OFICE STAPLE DRIVING MACHINE Fridolin Polzer,` South Norwalk, Conn., assigner to The E. H. Hotchkiss Company, Norwalk, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application June 8. 1935, Serial No. 25,544

13 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful irnprovements in staple driving machines and has for an object to provide a machine which willV without manual adjustment accurately and effectively drive staples of different widths, particularly wire staples made of different gauge wire, without clogging the machine and without damaging the staples.

Another object is to provide a machine having the characteristics indicated and which also includes means toprevent a second staple entering a plunger guideway until the rst staple to enter it has been driven out, thereby preventing clogging of the machine.

Still another object is to provide a machine which will correctly drive staples which are fed to` the plunger guideway turned laterally so that the top or connecting bars are not at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the strip, or staples in which the 'depending prongs are inclined forwardly or backwardly from the vertical.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing whereiny a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modications as fall withln the spirit `of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevationalview of a stapling machine constructed according to the present invention, a portion of a side plate being broken away to more clearly show details;

Fig. 2.is a perspective view on an enlarged scale showing the lower `forward portion of the main part of the machine and with the guide block removed;

Fig. 3 is a detail side view on an enlarged scale showing the lower front portion of the housing with a part of a side plate broken away;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational view showing theinner side or face of a block which forms the front wall of the plunger guideway of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a side view of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a frame member employed and which mounts the block of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a side elevational view of Fig. 6 and 1Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a spring employed.

l In Fig. 1 of the drawing I have shown by way of example the invention as applied to a stapling machine by which staples are to be driven through the work, such as sheets of paper, cloth, and the like, and the prongs folded or clinched. However, the invention is not limited to us'e in a stapling machine, `but may equally as well be i tained in an upwardly inclined position by means of a spring I3 acting against a pin I 4. Within the housing Il is a guideway I5 for a plunger I6 reciprocable vertically to drive individual staples downwardly through the guideway and through the work such as the papers l'l on the anvil I8 which cooperates with the plunger ln the stapler type of machine to clinch the staples. The plunger I6 is carried by a plunger bar I9 reciprocable vertically in the-housing and normally held in an upper position by a coil spring 20, and a hand knob 2| is provided at the upper end of the plunger bar and by which the latter and. the plunger may be depressed to drive a staple.

Within the housing II is a guide bar 22 upon which the staples 23, usually in the form of a connected strip, are fed to the guideway I5. The staples are fed forwardly by an= inverted U-shaped follower 24 through the action of a spring 25 connected with the follower. A handle 2E permits withdrawal of the follower. so that a staple strip may be placed on the guide bar 22. the parts above mentioned are conventional and may be varied as desired.

At its forward end the guide bar 22 is provided with a slot 2l, and the upper corners of its forward end are bevelled back as at 28. Also, the plunger IIi is kerfed or slotted at its lower end as shown at 29 in Fig. 2. The spacing ribs 30 at the lower sides of theguide bar have their forward ends cut away or rounded as at 3| and the purpose of this arrangement will later be described in detail. At its forward end the guide bar 22 carries a depending portion 32 providing a rear vertical shoulder 33 adapted to cooperate with a frame piece as will later appear.

Figs. 6 and l particularly show a frame piece generally :designated 34 and comprising side plates 35 and a lower connecting portion 36. This frame piece is adapted to be mounted on the housing, and toaccommodate the frame piece the side walls of the housing are cut away as indicated at 31 whereby to receive the walls 35 of the frame piece as shown best in Fig. l. Screws or other fastening means 33 pass through openings 39 in the frame piece and through an opening 40 in the housing so as to secure the frame piece in place, and they connecting portion 36 of the latter is received in the rear of the depending portion 32 of the guide bar and in abutting relation with the shoulder 33 of said portion so that the frame piece is securely held in place.

Disposed between the side walls 35 of the frame piece and pivotally supported as on a pin 4l is a block 42 forming the front wall of the guideway I5. As here disclosed'the pin 4l passes through an opening 43 in the block and through openings 44 in the side walls of the frame piece, and it will be noted that the pivot point of the block is adjacent its upper end well above the top of the staple guide bar 22. In its inner face block 42 is provided with a slot or groove 45 which, when the parts are assembled, is located opposite the slot or groove 2l in the front end of the guide bar 22. A dog or trigger 46 is arranged substantially in the slot 45 and is pivotally mounted by a pin 41, and it will be noted that such dog includes a lower arm portion 48 and an upper head-like portion 49.

Block 42 is swingable about its pivot 4l toward and from the forward end of the guide bar 22. A spring 5U is secured to the forward end of the housing l! as by a screw 5l passing through the opening 52 of the spring and threaded into an opening 53 in the housing. Below its attaching portion the spring is bent outwardly as at 54 and its lower or free endl portion 55 is then bent or curved inwardly so as to embrace the lower curved surface portion 590i block 42 as shown. Spring 53 is constantly pressing inwardly on the lower portion of the block 42 holding the latter in a normal position. However, it-will be apparent that sufficient pressure against the inner surface of the block will cause the latter to swing outwardly about its pivot against the action of the spring 5l). Y

In its inner face at its opposite edges the block is provided with recesses 51 and in the assembled machine such recesses come opposite the legs of staples being fed along the guide bar. Toward their lower ends the recesses 5l have their bottom walls curved outwardly as at 58. When the upper forward corners of the guide bar are bevelled back as at 28 staples having bent crowns or connecting top bars inclined laterally from the normal right angled position may yet enter the guideway to be driven therethrough. If the prongs of the staples are inclined forwardly they will enter the recesses 5l so as to permit the staple crowns to enter the guideway l5 and as such staples are driven downwardly the lower inclined walls 53 of the recesses will direct the prongs of the staples to vertical or upright positions in the guideway so that such staples may be properly driven. Should the prongs be inclined in the opposite direction the rolling action of the staple crowns on the inner surface of block 42 and the edge of dog 45 will, due to friction, turn the staple to bring its prongs into proper position. The curved forward corners 3l of the spacing ribs also provide clearance for the staple prongs.

Whena staple first enters the raceway its crown engages the head portion 49 of the dog 45 rocking the latter into the position shown in Fig. l and in which position its arm portion 48 has entered the slot 2T at the forward end of the guide bar. As the plunger I6 is depressed it engages the crown or connecting cross bar of such staple forcing the latter downwardly, and as such crown engages the arm V48 of the dog the latter is rocked back about its pivot so as to have its arm portion enter the slot 45 of the block 42 as in Fig. 3. This causes the head portion 49 of the dog to engage the front staple of the strip on the guide bar 22 and force the latter back along this guide bar. In Fig. 3 a staple 59 is shown as partly driven and the crown of this staple will hold the dog 45 in the position shown until the staple is driven from the guideway, and thereafter the pressure on the staple strip urging it forward will be exerted against the head portion of the dog to return it to the position of Fig. 1. From the foregoing it will be clear that a second staple may not enter the guideway until the rst staple to enter it has been driven from its lower end. f

Block 42 being pivotally mounted and resiliently held in normal position may yield or move outwardly with respect to the forward end of the guide bar. Normally the block may assume an inclined position as shown in Fig. l with its lower portion against the lower portion of the forward end ofthe guide bar, but it is so mounted that its portion opposite the upper surface of the guide bar. is normally spaced from the plane of the forward face of the latter a distance about equal to the width of the plunger which is about the width of the narrowest staple which it is proposed that the machine be capable of driving. The staple 59 which is in the guideway in Fig. 3 is of greater width than the thickness of the plunger I6. Since such staple may enter the guideway it will be apparent that a staple of less width, as for example of the width of the thickness of the plunger, may also enter the guideway to be driven therethrough. The staples 23 shown in Fig. 3 are indicated as of mixed widths. As a staple is driven through the guideway block 42 yields outwardly swinging about its pivot 4l and as the staple is driven out of the guideway and the plunger moves upwardly to normal position spring 59 brings the block 42 back to normal position. It will thus be seen that all widths of staples or staples made of wire of different gauges (within the limits for which the machine is designed) will be guided between the yieldable block 42 and the front end of the guide bar 22 so that all staples are properly guided. In other words the block 42, and therefore the front wall of the staple guideway, automatically adjusts itself to the proper position for the width or thickness of the staple being driven.

The disclosed arrangement has the advantage that the dog 45 prevents a second staple from entering the guideway until the first staple to enter it has been driven. Also, the one wall of the guideway being yieldable staples of different widthsmay be driven in the same machine and provision is made to take care of staples the crowns or legs of which are inclined. The movement of block 42 is automatic and is governed by the width of a staple presented to the guideway Y and so the machine is capable of driving staples of different widths even though the staples be in the same strip, or staples of different widths follow each other, no manual adjustments being necessary.

Having `thus `set forth the nature of =my `invention, what I claim is:

1. In a staple `driving machine, a movable plunger for driving individual U-shaped staples, a guideway forthe plunger, a supportand guide bar `for the staples beveled at its upper forward edge, spring operated means for feeding the staples along said guide `to the guideway, a mov- `able block comprising a part of the front wall of the vmachine and forming the front wall' of said guideway, a pivot mounting said block and located above the staple guide bar, said block being of .sufiicient width to guide the prongs of the staple being driven, and spring means maintaining said block in normal position `and arranged to' permit it to yield about said pivot under action of the staples when driven downwardly by the plunger to permit staples of different widths to be driven through the guideway, said latter spring means being of greater stiffness than the first spring means so as not to yield under pressure from the first means.

2. In a staple driving machine, a plunger for driving substantially U-shaped staples, a guideway for the plunger, a guide bar for the staples beveled at its upper forward edge, spring pressed means for feeding staples along said bar to the guideway, a movable member forming `the front wall of said guideway and of sufficient Width to guide `the prongs of the staple being driven, spring means yieldably maintaining said member in normal position and arranged to permit it to yield under action of the staple when driven downwardly by the plunger `to permit staples of different widths to be driven through the guideway, and means carried by said member and operable `to prevent a second staple entering the guideway until the first staple to enter the same has been driven therefrom.

3. In a staple driving machine including a housing, a plunger for driving the staples, a guide- Way for said plunger, a frame including spaced side walls embracing the `lower `forward portion of said housing, means passing through said side walls and removably securing the frame to the housing, a block disposed between and pivoted to said side walls and closing the forward side of said frame and forming the front wall of said guideway, said block being of suiicient width to guide the prongs of a staple being driven, and spring means maintaining said block in normal position whereby it may yield to permit staples of different widths to be driven through the guideway.

4. In a. staple driving machine, a plunger for driving the staples, a guideway for said plunger, a guidebar for the staples beveled at its upper `forward edge With the bevel at the opposite side edges of the bar greater than at the center to guide laterally misaligned staples into the guideway under action of the plunger, means for feeding staples along said bar to the guideway, a member forming the front wall of said guideway and of suflicient width to guide the prongs of the staple being driven, means pivotally mounting said member, and spring means acting on said member to yieldingly maintain it in a normal position with its lower portion innermost but to permit it to rock about its pivot to permit staples of different widths tot be driven through the guideway, and means carried by said member and operable to prevent a second staple entering the guideway until the first staple to enter it has been driven therefrom.

5. In a staple driving machine, a plunger for driving the staples, a guideway for said plunger, aguidebar for the staples beveled at its forward upper edge with the bevel at the opposite sides of `the bar greater than at the center to guide laterally misaligned staples into the guideway under action of the plunger, means for feeding staples along said bar to the guideway, a member forming the front wall of said guideway and of sufficient width to guide the prongs of the staple being driven, `means pivotally mounting `said member, a flat spring engaging the outer surface of and maintaining said member in normal position whereby it may rock about its pivot to permit staples of different widths to be driven through the guideway, a dog pivotally mounted on said member, and said dog adapted to'be engaged bythe crown of the forward staple on a strip and rocked about its pivot by a staple being driven whereby to prevent a second staple entering the raceway until the first has been driven therefrom.

6. In a staple driving machine, a plunger to drive the staples, a guideway for the plunger, a guidebar for the staple, means for feeding staples along the bar to the guideway, the forward upper edge of said bar being beveled, said bevel being greater adjacent the sides of the bar'than at kthe center so as to guide misaligned staples into the guideway, a block forming the front wall of said guideway, means pivotally mounting said block, and a spring engaging the outer surface of and maintaining said block in normal position whereby it may rock about its pivot to permit staples of different widths to be driven through 'the guideway.

7. In a staple driving machine, a plunger to drive the staples, a guideway for the plunger, a guidebar for the staples, the forward upper edge of the guide bar being beveled, means for feeding staples along the bar to the guideway, a block forming the front wall of said guideway, means pivotally mounting said block, a spring engaging the outer surface of and maintaining said block in normal position whereby it may rock about its pivot to permit staples of different widths to be driven through the guideway, said block in its inner surface having recesses opposite the prongs of staples to receive prongs inclined forwardly, and said recesses inclined at their lower ends to guide the prongs to vertical position in the guideway as the staple is driven downwardly therein.

8. In a staple driving machine, a plunger for driving the staples, a guideway for the plunger, a guidebar for the staples beveled at its forward upper edge with the bevel at the opposite sides of the bar greater than in the center to guide laterally misaligned staples into the guideway under action of the plunger, means for feeding staples along said bar to the guideway, a member forming one wall of said guideway and movable to permit staples of different widths to be driven through the guideway, said wall being of suflicient width to guide the prongs of the staple, and means carried by said member and operable by a staple in the guideway to prevent a second staple entering the guideway until after the first staple to= enter the same has been driven therefrom.

9. In a staple driving machine, a plunger` for driving the staples, a guideway for the plunger, a guidebar for the staples beveled at its upper forward edge with the bevel at the opposite sides of the bar greater than in the center to guide laterally misaligned staples intov the guideway under action of the plunger, means for feeding staples along said bar to the guideway, a movable member forming one wall of said guideway, said member being of sufficient width to guide the prongs of the staple being driven, spring means maintaining said member in normal position whereby it may yield to permit staples of different widths to be driven through the guideway, and a pivoted dog carried by said member and operable to engage the crown of the forward staple on the strip to prevent a second staple entering the guideway until after the first staple to enter the same has been driven therefrom.

10.'In a staple driving machine, a housing, a plunger for driving the staples, a guideway for said plunger, a guidebar for a staple strip arranged with its front end forming a wall of the guideway and beveled at its upper forward edge, means for feeding staples along said bar to the guideway, the sides of the housing being recessed to expose the forward end of said bar, a frame having side walls enclosing said end of the bar, means for detachably mounting the frame, a block pivoted to the frame and forming the front wall of the guideway opposite the end of the bar, said block being of suflicient width to guide the prongs of the staple being driven, and a spring tending to shift the block toward the bar and adapted to yield under action of the staple when driven downwardly by the plunger to permit staples of different thicknesses to be driven through the guideway.

11. In a staple driving machine, a housing, a plunger for driving the staples, a guideway for the plunger, a staple strip guidebar beveled at its upper forward edge, means for feeding staples along said bar to the guideway, said housing having recesses at the sides of the bar to expose the end of the bar, a downwardly extending shoulder on the bar, a frame having side walls in said recesses and a cross bar engaging said shoulder to prevent forward movement of the frame, a securing means passing through said side Walls to mount the frame, a block pivotally mounted in the frame and forming the front wall of the guideway, said block being of suflicient width to guide the prongs of the staple being driven, and a spring tending to move the block toward the bar and permitting the block to move outwardly under action of the staple when driven downwardly by the plunger to permit driving of staples of different thicknesses.

12. In a staple driving machine, a movable plunger for driving the staples, a guideway for the plunger, a staple strip guidebar at one side of the guideway, means for feeding staples along said bar to the guideway, a pivoted block forming the front wall of the guideway opposite said bar and of sufficient width to guide the prongs of the staple being driven, a spring holding said block in normal position and adapted to permit the block to yield outwardly under action of the staple when driven downwardly by the plunger to permit driving of staples of different thicknesses, and a bevel on the forward end of the bar greater at the opposite sides of the bar than in the center to guide laterally misaligned staples into the guideway under action of the plunger.

13. In a staple driving machine, a plunger to drive the staples, a guideway for the plunger, a guidebar for the staples, means for feeding staples along the bar to the guideway, a pivotally mounted block forming the front wall of the guideway, a spring maintaining the block in normal position and arranged to permit the block to yield outwardly under action of the staple when driven downwardly by the plunger to permit staples of different thicknesses to be driven through the guideway, said block having recesses in its inner surface opposite the prongs of the staples to receive prongs inclined forwardly, said recesses being inclined at their lower ends to guide the prongs into the guideway as the staple is driven downwardly, and the upper forward edge of the bar being beveled with the bevel at the sides of the bar being greater than in the center to guide laterally misaligned staples into the guideway under action of the plunger.

FRIDOLIN POLZER. 

